Senate demand pressure on "Israel" to deliver aid to Gaza
17 members of the US Senate urge Secretary of State Antony Blinken to put pressure on "Israel" to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
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Democrat Chris Van Hollen.
17 Democrat senators notified Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a memorandum of the need to put pressure on the Israeli government to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
In their memo obtained by the American Axios website, the group urged Blinken to lift Israeli restrictions on the movement of Palestinians to receive treatment or visit relatives.
It stressed that the Biden administration should insist on reopening two border crossings "so the essential humanitarian workers can enter with fuel and construction materials to meet the growing needs of the civilian population."
The group, led by Democrat Chris Van Hollen, said that the ceasefire succeeded to improve the situation in Gaza.
They called on the US funding for humanitarian efforts in Gaza to return to its pre-Trump levels and urged the administration to appoint an ambassador to "Israel" and a consul general in Al-Quds (occupied Jerusalem) to coordinate with the Palestinians and the USAID mission head.
The US, Egypt, Qatar, and other countries are committed to rebuilding Gaza after many homes, health care facilities, and schools were destroyed and water infrastructure damaged during the battle, in addition to humanitarian aid, but the Israeli occupation threatens to disrupt the process.
"Israel" notified the US and Egypt that it will prevent any reconstruction before securing the release of Israeli citizens and the bodies of Israeli soldiers held by Hamas.
"Israel" and Egypt control the border crossings with the Gaza Strip, restrict movement and goods, and have imposed a naval blockade on Gaza for more than a decade.
On May 25, the spokesperson for the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Stephane Dujarric, announced that Tel Aviv prevented humanitarian aid from smoothly entering Gaza.
Al-Mayadeen's correspondent also reported that the occupation forces prevented the "Doctors Without Borders" team from crossing into the Gaza Strip.
On May 22, China, Tunisia, and Norway distributed to the members of the UN Security Council a draft statement, welcoming the ceasefire agreement between the Palestinians and the Israeli occupation, calling for the non-impeding of humanitarian aid access to the Gaza Strip.
